The Relationship between Smoking/E-cigarettes and The Influence of Religious Beliefs among Secondary School Students in Yala Province
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Abstract
Objective: To examine the lifetime prevalence of cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use and their associations with religious beliefs–related factors and school type among secondary school students in Yala Province.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2025 using an online questionnaire. The study sample consisted of 368 students in grades 7 - 12 from four schools in Yala Province: two general secondary schools and two private Islamic religious schools (Pondok schools). Associations between cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use with religious beliefs and school type were analyzed.
Results: Among the 368 participants, the mean age was 14.7 ± 2.0 years; 219 were male (59.5%) and 136 were female (37.0%). The lifetime prevalence of cigarette smoking was 36.4%, and e-cigarette use was 25.3%. Students from Pondok schools had a significantly higher prevalence of cigarette smoking than those from general schools (75.4% vs. 15.1%, p < 0.001), as well as a higher prevalence of e-cigarette use (54.6% vs. 9.2%, p < 0.001). Among Muslim students, strict adherence to religious teachings was significantly associated with cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use (p = 0.048 and p = 0.020, respectively). Other factors associated with cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use included family structure, parental advice, daily allowance, and academic performance.
Conclusion: Students attending Pondok schools had higher rates of cigarette smoking than those in general schools, and strict adherence to religious teachings showed a statistically significant association with cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use. Therefore, smoking and e-cigarette prevention campaigns in Yala Province should focus on students in Pondok schools, particularly those with poor academic performance.
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